LA VONA M. TILSON, 79

LaVona M. Tilson, 79, of Tekamah, died Thursday, April 12, 2001, at Methodist Hospital in Omaha.

Funeral services were held April 16 at the United Methodist Church in Tekamah with the Rev. Harun Gatobu officiating. Interment was in the Tekamah Cemetery.

LaVona Martha Tilson was born June 27, 1921 in Denton, Mont., to Franklin and Harriet (Doiel) Blunk.

In 1938, she married Estle Tilson and together they raised a large family. She was a devoted wife, mother, and loved being with her family.

She is survived by her five daughters, Carolyne Nelson of Commerce City, Colo.; Martha Brodersen and Lydia Metzler, both of Wayne; Tally Schmidt of Tekamah; and Diana Thomlinson of Normal, Ill.; five sons, Estle Tilson of Holdrege; Frank Tilson of Safford, Ariz.; Joel Tilson of Spanaway, Wash.; Kevin Tilson of Tekamah; and Terry Tilson of Westchester, Ill.; sisters, Irene Olson of Rockport, Mo.; and Ella Jean Lorenz of Canyon Lake, Texas; a sister-in-law, Lela Blunk of Atchison, Kan.; many grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Estle, two brothers, Doiel and Darrell, and a sister, Eula.

Memorials are suggested to the Tekamah Rescue Squad.

Hamel-Peck-Pelan Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.